2011 Oscar Nominations – 2011 Academy Award Predictions

Tuesday, January 25, 2011 at 10:03 am

Early this morning, the 2011 Oscar nominations were read aloud by last year’s Best Supporting Actress winner, Mo’Nique, and the oddly attired Academy president, Tom Sherak. The King’s Speech led the pack with 12 nominations, while critical darlings the Coen brothers picked up 10 nominations for their remake of True Grit. Third place went to The Social Network, a film that many feel is the favorite for the Best Picture Oscar when awards are handed out on Sunday, February 27th at 8pm.

Below, I’ve included a complete list of all the major 2011 Academy Award nominations, and I’ve thrown in a bit of commentary and prediction at no extra charge. A few weeks ago, I tried my hand at picking who would receive the nominations, so I’ll also be looking back to see how I fared.

Once you’ve read the complete list of 2011 Oscar nominations, be sure to head to the comments section below the article and start making your own predictions. After that, it’s a matter of treading water until the 83rd Academy Awards air in about a month (with James Franco and Anne Hathaway serving as this year‘s hosts).

Best Picture

The King’s Speech

The Kids Are All Right

Black Swan

Inception

The Fighter

127 Hours

Toy Story 3

The Social Network

True Grit

Winter’s Bone

Thoughts: I went 10 for 10 on my 2011 Oscar predictions for this category. I was especially pleased to see Winter’s Bone snag a nomination, while I was surprised by the amount of love True Grit received from the Academy. Toy Story 3 was a lock after everyone raised a stink over WALL-E being omitted a few years back, and Black Swan represents the artsy pick that doesn’t have a chance in hell. Danny Boyle continues his impressive streak.

Prediction: I’m still going with The Social Network. Director David Fincher is respected as a filmmaker, it did well at the box office, and the subject of the story was voted as Time’s Man of the Year. How can it be denied?

Best Director

Darren Aronofsky – Black Swan

David O. Russell – The Fighter

Tom Hooper – The King’s Speech

David Fincher – The Social Network

Joel Coen and Ethan Coen – True Grit

Thoughts: I went four out of five on my predictions for this category, with my only miss being David O. Russell’s inclusion for The Fighter. I had Danny Boyle on the list instead, as I felt his skill at making a compelling story about a guy stuck between two rocks was beyond impressive. I thought True Grit was a solid piece of cinema, but I get the feeling that the Coen brothers just get nominated for anything they do these days. I can live with this list though.

Predictions: He’s been passed over before, but this year his film has a high chance of taking home a Best Picture Oscar. Give the long overdue win to David Fincher. In my own bizarro universe, he would already have a trophy resting on his mantle for Seven.

Best Actor

Javier Bardem – Biutiful

Jeff Bridges – True Grit

Colin Firth – The King’s Speech

Jesse Eisenberg – The Social Network

James Franco – 127 Hours

Thoughts: I went five for five again, and this category held no surprises. I’m glad to see James Franco pick up the first of many nominations. Hopefully, Jesse Eisenberg (or, as I call him, “Michael Cera II”) won’t get too used to the view from up there. Bridges had to be nominated for his scenery-chewing performance in True Grit, but it’s hard to see him pulling off back-to-back wins (a feat last accomplished by Tom Hanks).

Prediction: I would bet money on this one. Colin Firth walks away with the Oscar for his magnificent performance as a monarch with a speech impediment.

Best Actress

Annette Bening – The Kids Are All Right

Nicole Kidman – Rabbit Hole

Jennifer Lawrence – Winter’s Bone

Natalie Portman – Black Swan

Michelle Williams – Blue Valentine

Thoughts: I got three of the five right. I can live with Halle Berry being left off the list this year, but I’m surprised voters didn’t bite on her portrayal of a woman with multiple personalities in Frankie & Alice. I must, however, protest Emma Stone’s exclusion for her role in Easy A. She turned in a perfectly timed comedic performance.

Prediction: Natalie Portman. She plays an artist who goes crazy due to her dedication. No way Academy voters aren’t going to identify with that one.

Best Supporting Actor

Christian Bale – The Fighter

John Hawkes – Winter’s Bone

Jeremy Renner – The Town

Mark Ruffalo – The Kids Are All Right

Geoffrey Rush – The King’s Speech

Thoughts:The Town’s Jeremy Renner got the nod over The Social Network’s Andrew Garfield, which was a surprise. Still, I’m always happy to see Renner get a nomination, as I’ve been a fan ever since catching him in movies such as SWAT and Dahmer. I got four out of five, and I’m pleased to see that I hit on John Hawkes’ nomination as Uncle Teardrop from Winter’s Bone. He’s come a long way since the days of Benny’s House of Blood.

Predictions: Geoffrey Rush has a chance for the win, but I’ve got to go with Christian Bale in another one of his chameleon-like performances. This is his first nomination, and he’s been around ever since he was a kid (Empire of the Sun). He’s long overdue for an Oscar.

Best Supporting Actress

Amy Adams – The Fighter

Helena Bonham Carter – The King’s Speech

Melissa Leo – The Fighter

Hailee Steinfeld – True Grit

Jacki Weaver – Animal Kingdom

Thoughts: I predicted that Dianne Wiest and Barbara Hershey would make the cut, but they were replaced instead by Jacki Weaver and Amy Adams. Hailee Steinfeld’s stock shoots through the roof after starring in only a handful of kiddie films prior to True Grit. And it’s nice to see Helena Bonham Carter in a role where she isn’t looking like a freak (which is becoming more grating as she ages).

Prediction: Melissa Leo has already picked up a Golden Globe for her performance as a manipulative harpy in The Fighter, so I’ll make her my pick. I’m a fan of character actors getting their moment in the sun.

Best Animated Feature Film

How to Train Your Dragon – Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois

The Illusionist – Sylvain Chomet

Toy Story 3 – Lee Unkrich

Thoughts: I predicted Tangled would get a nomination, if for no other reason than it was the most expensive animated film ever made. Instead, The Illusionist got the nod.

Prediction:Toy Story 3. When an animated film gets nominated for Best Picture, you can count on it losing in that category and winning in this one.

Best Documentary

Exit Through the Gift Shop – Banksy and Jaimie D’Cruz

Gasland – Josh Fox and Trish Adlesic

Inside Job – Charles Ferguson and Audrey Marrs

Restrepo – Tim Hetherington and Sebastian Junger

Waste Land – Lucy Walker and Angus Aynsley

Thoughts: I hated to see that The Tillman Story missed out on a nomination, but its exclusion should give Restrepo a much better chance of winning. Where’s Waiting for Superman?

Prediction: It’s had the momentum all year, so I’ll go with Exit Through the Gift Shop. Expect graffiti artist (and director) Banksy to pull off an acceptance that leaves members of the Academy confused and speechless.